Communicating Authority in Interorganizational Collaboration

The book explores the challenges of establishing authority within collaborative efforts and introduces the concept of cumulative authority, which is negotiated in communication among collaboration members. It draws from an extensive case study of emergency management collaborations and offers insights into potential influences on collaborative authority, including members' knowledge and expertise, organizational structures, and the material world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book delves into a comprehensive examination of the complexities involved in establishing authority within collaborative endeavors. It introduces the concept of cumulative authority, emphasizing the crucial role of effective communication in fostering and sustaining collaborations.

Rice adopts a communication-as-constitutive perspective of organizations, challenging the traditional notion of authority solely attributed to leadership. Instead, he argues that authority is negotiated and established through the interactions and exchanges among collaboration members as they strive to influence the direction and outcomes of the collaboration.

Drawing from an extensive two-year case study of emergency management collaborations, the book explores various potential influences on collaborative authority. These influences encompass members' knowledge and expertise, organizational structures and hierarchies, as well as the material world, encompassing documents, technologies, and the natural environment.

This book serves as a valuable empirical resource for organizational communication and management students and scholars. It offers insightful insights and practical guidance for community collaborators and organizers, providing valuable advice and reflection questions for practitioners. By examining the dynamics of authority within collaborative contexts, the book contributes to our understanding of effective collaboration and organizational management in today's complex and interconnected world.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367653699